Tag: love

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 3):

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2015
I’m biased when I say that this was the best year of the decade, but that’s truly how I feel. This year was jam-packed with fun, adventures, celebrations, love and pure epicness. 2015 began with a few more snowboarding sessions, gameboard days turning into nights, and many things wedding- like saying “yes to the dress” after only trying on a few! March Madness included celebrating group birthdays, finding bridesmaids’ dresses, catching a concert or two and some Raptors’ games (we even got to meet Damon Stoudamire). Time was flying by, but it’s no surprise with so many wonderful events happening, and the biggest party of the summer was going to go down in a few short months.

In Spring, there was an epic paintball adventure for a good friend’s bachelorette party, followed by a menu tasting for my wedding with family, a getaway to Port Carling to visit our best friends, more attempts at golf, another concert (or two), and suit shopping with the groomsmen for our wedding. It wouldn’t be the 2010s without a few more Blue Jays games, and wedding season was officially on with my cousin’s wedding in June. June also meant another wonderful birthday celebration, as well as my brother’s graduation, exploring new provincial parks, and a dress fitting or two.

One month to go before our wedding, July began with the most amazing bachelorette weekend ever; I truly could not have asked for or planned a weekend that was so much fun. I headed to Niagara Falls with some of my favourite gal pals for three days of laughs, love and adventure. My BFF and my MOH (Maid of Honour) planned a night of interactive party games, followed up a full day of an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt that had two teams racing all up, down and around Niagara Falls, and closing it out with a superb dinner and night of dancing! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am near impossible to surprise, and being such a planner, to have someone take over all control of planning my bachelorette party was difficult for me, but she truly hit a grand slam home-run with that weekend! Truly one of the best weekends of my life. Believe it or not, I was totally brought to tears that weekend, not only because I was given a special keepsake scrapbook with messages and photos from all my gal pals, but in all reality, growing up with so many guy friends, I never thought that I would have so many amazing ladies in my life to call my good friends and celebrate my bachelorette with me; oh and facetiming my cousin/bridesmaid in Newfoundland in the weekend also made me cry; another rare sight.

It was finally August which means we were days away from our wedding. Most of the days leading up to the wedding were pretty standard stuff: pick up the dress, pick up the suits, drop off the centerpieces to the flourist, get the rehearsal done, then contain your excitement for the biggest party of the summer! My husband and I are truly blessed because no two people could have felt more love on our wedding day than the two of us; its cliche but it’s true. Being together for almost 10 years by our wedding, everyone had built-up excitement and enthusiasm for our big day. With all the “you’re finally getting married” lines out of the way, our wedding was also a great opportunity for my family to get together and celebrate something wonderful; for the first time in years both my mom’s and dad’s sides of the family were under the same roof, laughing, smiling and catching up. Walking into the hall, you could feel all the joy, love, and positive emotions in the room, and it’s a feeling I will never forget. August 15th 2015 was a scorcher day, weather wise, so thank goodness for an indoor wedding venue and an open-bar! We celebrated our wedding day with about 175 friends and family, ate way too much delicious food, and drank all the thirst quenching beverages in sight! When the clock struck midnight we ate a little more and continued to dance the late night away. The next day, we travelled to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls for a little post-wedding getaway with our wedding party; our best and closest friends supported us so much through our entire relationship and the wedding planning process we wanted to thank them but also celebrate an extra special way with them for getting us married. Incase you couldn’t tell, we’re big kids at heart so waterslides and hanging out playing games is an ideal weekend for us; we had an absolute blast!

In Fall 2015 there was no slowing down, as two of our dear friends would also be tying the knot; one in September and another in October. There was also another successful Client Appreciation Party thrown by my brother and sister-in-law for their real estate business clients; which started in 2013 and was growing in numbers each year. Round out October with another concert, and what would become an annual tradition Halloween bash at our house! November brought upon a new apartment warming party for our friends, and yes, another road trip to Ottawa where we’d discover a hidden gem winery and the epic Diefenbunker museum. We cannot forget those epic board game nights too.

Just when you thought 2015 couldn’t possibly fit any more epicness into it, Star Wars was back in theatres for the first time in 10 years! Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released and really, the force awoke in almost everyone; what an exciting time! We closed out the year with what would become another annual tradition: Friendship Christmas. With the decade half over, it was difficult to picture what other events might occur that would be as life changing as the last few years. 2015 was one of the happiest years of my life, so 2016 had some pretty big shoes to fill. It was unlikely that it would match that bar but it came pretty close.

2016
Most of 2016 started off with the same likeness as 2015; much snowboarding and game nights and new experiences like escape rooms! In February, Jeff and I would visit Ochi Rios, Jamaica for our honeymoon in what would be the most pampered and relaxing experience of my life; I am forever thankful for how astounding that vacation was! A honeymoon really is a once in a lifetime experience, and having a private pool, butler service and such amazing food and drink at our fingertips was overwhelming, but in a good way! In addition to relaxing poolside and at the beach, we were able to visit Dunns River for the day. Our honeymoon was wonderful because we got to spend time away from everyday life and we got to do it together; a nice reminder to slow down and take in the little moments. Taking our honeymoon 6 months after our actual wedding was also a great refresher of those exciting feels you get on your wedding day!

After our honeymoon, Jeff and I visited the humane society and picked out a new furry friend to bring home. Initially we were told this adorable little white and grey kitty was a girl, so we named her Zelda; my husband is a huge Legend of Zelda fan. A week later when we took Zelda to the vet, we found out that Zelda was actually a boy. For a day or two, The Cat Formally Known as Zelda had no new name, but eventually we decided on Hobbes; like the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. I was so overjoyed to have a cat back in my life, and to this day we love and adore Hobbes dearly.

Spring 2016 brought on live wrestling events, another concert or two, some treetop trekking, another Raptors playoff run, more exploring of our provincial parks, a friend’s baby shower, and an epic archery tag birthday party for yours truly! I was also asked to be a bridesmaid in my dear friends wedding, which was going to be in January 2017, so there were a handful of bridal preparations throughout this year that I was helping the bride-to-be get checked off her list. A few days after my birthday, my best friend and I took a road trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to catch the Blue Jays on the road, but also partake in some American history. I love road trips because they bring out some of the best conversations, carpool karaoke sessions, and just an overall grand adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. Being history majors, we adored how rich in history Philadelphia was from the liberty bell, to Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Centre, and Eastern State Penitentiary, much fun was had! Yes, we climbed those famous Rocky-steps up the museum, and of course we indulged in some Philly Cheesesteak! The Jays games were blast; ballpark food is out of this world in the States, and we may have fallen in love with the Phillie Phanatic. If you’ve never been to Philadelphia, I highly recommend it!

Summer kicked off with my brother’s wedding, a cottage bachelorette weekend for my dear friend, more outdoor adventures at some provincial parks, continued treetop trekking adventures, friends’ having babies, another round of Rogers’ Cup tennis, and cottage weekends. For the first time in forever, we got to spend the long-weekend away at the cottage with friends, and oh what laughs were had! Truly a great little getaway with some really amazing people. A cousin’s wedding would close out the summer, as would some natural rock climbing adventures; note to anyone wanting to try this- it’s quite an experience but it definitely takes a toll on your body- especially if you do not exercise or climb regularly; worth a try though if you love outdoor adventures.

Before I go on any further about the wonderful things that continued to happen in 2016, I would like to take a moment and touch upon the other things going on in my life at this time. Having been at my job for about four years now, I had taken on much more responsibility with every passing school year and it was beginning to take its toll on me. Long work days followed by after hours phone calls from staff, coupled with continuous lack of staff to cover programs had me stretched out pretty thin attempting to do my job in addition to that of the front-line staff who were either ill, needed time off or were practically non-existent. I enjoy being challenged in the workplace and I face new responsibilities with a positive attitude, but day in and day out of the same constant problems with no support from head office to help our small team was equal parts physically and emotionally draining. While I adored my supervisors very much, we were all under a great deal of stress trying to juggle all the roles, paperwork, staff and parents that were knocking at our door each day. The circumstances of my career took a toll on me because I didn’t want to walk away from a challenge and I was learning so much valuable experience and skill set that could never be taught in a classroom. More importantly, I wasn’t sure where I would go next if I left the company; although I was a teacher by trade, I was certain that going back on the supply list or being in the classroom wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I took much of 2016 as a chance to think more clearly about what would be next for me as a career, but more on that later!

September 2016 was another magical time because I would return to Walt Disney World with my best friend and a good friend of ours from Nipissing who moved overseas would be joining us! We ventured to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival, indulging in delicious food from all over the world throughout the World Showcase exhibit. We met a ton of characters in Magic Kingdom, took a Jungle Cruise, ate lunch with the friends from the Hundred Acre Woods, and visited Animal Kingdom for the first time! The highlight of our trip was Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which was an after-dark event at Magic Kingdom where all guests could dress up and go trick-or-treating throughout the park, meet villains and ride some attractions! We dressed up as the Aliens from Toy Story; so many people loved our costumes, especially Buzz Lightyear. Such a magnificent vacation it was, especially because it would be the last time I would see my friend from overseas for a long time!

The closing months of 2016 included our second annual Halloween Party, a few more board game nights, escape rooms, and more frequent hockey games where my nephew was the star player! A wine and cheese night was thrown into the mix, as was a bridal shower/fiesta for the January bride-to-be, another road trip to Ottawa, and yes- another Star Wars story (Rogue One). Last but not least, a lovely Friendship Christmas was had, followed by a pajama party New Years Eve. 2016 had some big shoes to fill, and all things considered, it didn’t disappoint. The year continued to strengthen many bonds made years prior, while introducing some new people into my life as well. Friends of mine were starting or growing their families, and changes were brewing! With my dear friends wedding mere days away, I was excited for all that 2017 would bring even if it was a tad scary! Stay tuned…

A Birthday Appreciation Post

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For those who know me well, and even those who have only known me for 5 minutes, it’s not a secret how much I love my birthday! It is certain that I always have, and always will love my birthday. While most people say that once you run out of 20s, you’ll stop counting your birthdays, lying about your age, and even refrain from celebrating or making a big deal out of your big day, but I can say in my heart of hearts that this isn’t going to happen to me because I think birthdays are so important and every single one is worth celebrating. Let me rant a bit about why I not only love my own birthday, but birthdays in general. I just turned 31 on June 10th, and I had a really wonderful day; sorry for the delay on writing this blog! Hopefully you’ll think about your own birthday a little bit differently by the end of this blog post…

Remember being a kid and getting so excited about planning your birthday party? Whether it be at the local bowling alley, McDonalds (because that was a thing- even though I never had my birthday there), Chuck-E-Cheese, the movie theatre, a home party with your friends, cousins and family members, or even a sleepover with your pals or hanging out a local hotspot- whatever the place or case, birthdays were something to be celebrated when we were kids, so why does that mentality stop? Maybe we don’t need balloons and loot bags anymore, or even silly games (if that isn’t your thing), but why stop going out or staying in and doing something fun with your friends/family just because you’re an adult? I know that sometimes birthdays, like other times of year (like Christmas or Thanksgiving) can bring up rough times or memories for some people, but I think the purpose of birthdays is often forgotten. Your birthday is a celebration of you – you coming into this world and everyone in your life who is important to you should want to remind you of how loved and special and important you are. As a kid, celebrating your birthday was about hanging out with your friends and family and doing fun things. Yeah, it was also about gifts, because as kids that is how we think, but now that we’re older the act of gift giving (and receiving) means that someone wanted to get you something special, something that you’ll really like, or something that makes them think of you. Celebrating your birthday is a way for those in your life to make you feel loved, appreciated, valued, and cared for – and honestly, we don’t get enough of that in our life.

Remember how special you felt as a kid when all those people came to celebrate you? I don’t think that feeling should stop. Life is too short not to celebrate another year on this earth. Life is too short not to show those you care about that they are worth celebrating. I know that sometimes we can all have a bad day that turns into a bad month, that stretches out to a bad year. However, I think if we took the time to think about how a birthday is another 365 chances for changes, better days ahead, and/or new adventures, opportunities or things, we would all feel a little bit better (and make others feel better too). Your birthday is a chance to be a little selfish, and I think this is a good thing. The older we get, the more we become more giving towards others rather than ourselves; we become harder on ourselves for not making deadlines, falling a bit behind, not getting caught up or comparing ourselves to others in our own age group or whom we grew up with. We tend to do less for ourselves and more for others; this is especially the case if/when we have children or take on stressful jobs or careers. Ultimately, we can become very hard on ourselves, and when your birthday comes around, it should be a time to reflect on what you did accomplish, what changes you made, what lessons you learned, but also who was there alongside with you, what new friendships formed, or what old ones gained strength. Yes, you should totally be selfish on your birthday- treat yourself to a day at the spa, go out for that dinner, have not one but two scoops of ice cream – do something that day you don’t get to do everyday – and I REALLY encourage you to take your birthday off of work because who really wants to work on their birthday? You deserve a day off, even if you’re going to just stay in pyjamas all day – you do you!

I love my birthday because it is a reminder of my personal story and all the things I have had the privilege of experiencing in my 31 years of living. There are no guarantees in life, and without running the risk of sounding morbid or sad, birthdays are a gift that you don’t exactly know if you’ll be getting again next year. Life can get in the way. Many cultures see birthdays as a rite of passage, and depending on your background you may celebrate your day differently or some ages in particular are more important than others. My birthday is a celebration of my life; another year of changes, memories, ups and downs, adventures, and while it might not all be great, it is all part of the story that makes up my life. Being a generally positive person, it is easier for me to see the good that can come out of bad situations or circumstances, and I recognize that not everyone is like this; another reason why a birthday is a great reminder to someone of just how wonderful, valued, important and great they are – and that they can get through anything with love and support. My husband, family and friends make me feel very loved and appreciated, especially on my birthday and the more chances I get to celebrate with them is another chance to be thankful and appreciative of all the things I have shared with them.

As someone who loves their birthday, I make it a goal of mine to ensure that others in my life feel loved, valued, appreciated and special on their own birthday as much as I feel on my own. I understand that not everyone likes attention on themselves, so not everyone wants a big party or get together to celebrate another trip around the sun. I encourage you who read this to think about your own thoughts and feelings about your birthday. Reflect on some birthdays you remember that were fun, exciting, and really joyous moments. I am sure you can think of many. I also encourage you to think of some birthdays that maybe weren’t so great, and reflect on what happened to make it so; think about how far you’ve come from that point, what has changed and what new things have you been able to experience or see or do because of another passing year? A personal goal of mine is to encourage those who are close to me to love and want to celebrate their birthdays even more as the years go on. I think we all need a reminder of how important we are to those around us and that your birthday marks the day you were brought into the world to change the lives of those you’ve crossed paths with; whether you see it that way or not -it’s true!

I have had some incredible birthdays in my 31 years and I have my family, husband and friends to thank for many of them. Whether it be Spice Girls themed, running around a laser or archery tag arena as an adult, carnivals, road trips or vacations, and heck yeah – even getting engaged on my birthday – I have had many incredible birthdays and hope to have many incredible more!